Interorganizational collaboration in occupational rehabilitation: perceptions of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team.

Introduction: Various obstacles to and facilitators of collaboration between an interdisciplinary work rehabilitation team and the stakeholders (workers, insurers, physicians, and employers) exist, but are not well characterized.

Methods: An observational study was conducted, using videotapes of interdisciplinary team discussions of ongoing cases involving 22 workers absent from work due to musculoskeletal disorders. The actions taken and strategies adopted by the team in an effort to overcome the obstacles to collaboration were studied.

Results: Various factors influence collaboration between the rehabilitation team and the stakeholders. In general, stakeholder endorsement of the team's therapeutic principles and confidence in their approach emerged as particularly important factors. Diverse strategies, most often, education and awareness-raising, were used by the team to foster collaboration among the parties.

Conclusions: This study provides greater insight into the factors affecting collaboration among a rehabilitation team, an injured worker and other stakeholders. The results may improve understanding of the actions taken by rehabilitation teams and help to optimize their practices.